What intervention should the nurse teach the client help prevent the spread of MRSA?
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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — or MRSA — is a type of highly drug-resistant bacteria that has been a problem in hospital and health care settings for decades. More recently, MRSA has become a problem among otherwise healthy student athletes. Is your child at risk? What can you do to protect against MRSA infection? Show
What is MRSA?MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that has become resistant to the effects of many common antibiotics. This means that the antibiotics that used to kill the bacteria — such as methicillin — no longer work. This makes MRSA infections much more difficult to treat. MRSA first surfaced in hospitals, where it often caused serious bloodstream infections in people who were sick with other diseases and conditions. Now there are varieties of MRSA that occur in nonhospital settings. These infections typically affect the skin of otherwise healthy individuals — such as student athletes. What does an MRSA infection look like?An MRSA skin infection looks like a boil, pimple or spider bite that may be:
These infections most commonly occur at sites where the skin has been broken by cuts or scrapes, or on areas of the skin covered by hair, such as the:
How does MRSA spread?MRSA is spread by:
What can schools do to prevent MRSA infections?Athletic equipment and locker rooms should be regularly cleaned and disinfected. There's no evidence that spraying or fogging rooms or surfaces with disinfectant works any better than just focusing on frequently touched surfaces — such as wrestling mats, weight training equipment and locker room benches. Schools, coaches and trainers can also:
What can athletes do to prevent MRSA infections?To help prevent the spread of MRSA infections:
If you have a skin infection, what should you do?Cover the infected area with a clean, dry bandage. Then, go see your doctor. Don't try to treat a skin infection yourself. It's hard to tell the difference between a skin infection caused by MRSA and a skin infection caused by another type of bacteria. Your doctor can order laboratory tests to determine what kind of bacterial infection you have. How are MRSA skin infections treated?Minor MRSA skin infections usually heal after being drained by your doctor. If the infection doesn't heal well or gets worse, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics that are still effective against MRSA. If the infection is severe, you may need to be hospitalized. In rare cases, MRSA infections can become life-threatening. While your skin infection is healing, keep it covered with a clean, dry bandage at all times. To avoid spreading MRSA to others, wash your hands often, especially after changing your bandage or touching the infection. Don't share clothing, towels or hygiene products with anyone else. Don't use whirlpools, therapy pools or swimming pools until the infection has healed completely. When can the athlete return to play?The National Athletic Trainers' Association recommends that skin infections be tested for MRSA, and that an athlete who has MRSA should not be allowed to return to play until:
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See more In-depth . What are nursing interventions for MRSA?Listed below are the nursing interventions for a patient with MRSA:. Ensure isolation and contact transmission precautions. ... . Perform hand hygiene. ... . Use of PPEs. ... . Environmental cleaning. ... . Decontamination of patient's equipment. ... . Monitoring signs of infection.. How can you prevent MRSA from spreading?Maintain good hand and body hygiene. Clean hands often, and clean your body regularly, especially after exercise. Keep cuts, scrapes, and wounds clean and covered until healed. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels and razors.
What is the most important factor in preventing the spread of MRSA?Hand hygiene is the single most important factor in preventing the spread of MRSA.
How should you manage a patient with MRSA?Treatments for MRSA
applying antibacterial cream inside your nose 3 times a day for 5 days. washing with an antibacterial shampoo every day for 5 days. changing your towel, clothes and bedding every day during treatment – the laundry should be washed separately from other people's and at a high temperature.
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